Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

CONTENTS

Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd. - Fleet History 1927-1971……………… Page 3

Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd. - Bus Fleet List 1927-1971……………… Page 9

Cover Illustration: No. 47 (3947UE) was a 1960 Cub with Park Royal 45-seat body. (LTHL collection).

First Published 2015 by The Local Transport History Library. Third Edition 2018.

With thanks to Roger Cox and David Lang for illustrations.

© The Local Transport History Library 2018. (www.lthlibrary.org.uk) For personal use only. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or distributed in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise for commercial gain without the express written permission of the publisher. In all cases this notice must remain intact. All rights reserved.

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2 Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

The history of Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Limited can be linked with the development of the Leamington and Warwick Tramways and Omnibus Company Limited, which was first registered on the 18th February 1880. Just over a year later, on the 21st November 1881, the Company opened a horse tramway between the two towns, constructed under the Leamington Tramways Order of 1879.

In 1900 the BET acquired the controlling interest and, in 1902, changed the Company's name to the Leamington and Warwick Electrical Company Limited. It was intended to use the Company as an electrical supplier to consumers other than the tramways, and a power station was built at the Company's tram depot at Emscote for this purpose.

The Warwick Tramways Order of 1900 (and the Leamington Tramways Order of 1901) provided for the electrification of the tramways, although it was not until February 1905 that work actually started. The horse tramway was closed and a temporary service maintained by horse omnibus until the tramway re-opened on 12th July 1905.

Just prior to the opening of the new electric tramway, the Leamington Motor Omnibus Company Limited, owned by Lyon Clark, McNeill and Company of Leamington, ap- peared on the scene. They commenced operations with a half-hourly service between Leamington and Warwick, using two double-deck Milnes-Daimler vehicles. Shortly afterwards, a single-deck Milnes-Daimler bus with luggage accommodation on the roof began plying twice daily between Kenilworth and Stratford-upon-Avon. By the end of the year, however, the Company had ceased trading.

3 Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

In March 1908, three Brush, open-top, double-deck, motor omnibuses were hired from the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Limited (BMMO), finally being acquired by the Leamington Company in 1910. The vehicles were subsequently converted to single-deck. By 1911 the bus fleet stood at five vehicles. The British Automobile Traction Company Limited (BAT) acquired the motor omnibus section of the Company in November 1912 and later in the year the tramway section was sold to Balfour Beatty and Company Limited.

At the outbreak of the First World War, the fleet numbered nine vehicles, but several were requisitioned and the BAT decided to discontinue the omnibus services in the Leamington area, leaving the tramway system unopposed. In 1927, however, a new company, trading as the Stratford-upon-Avon Motor Services, was granted a licence to operate between Stratford and Leamington in direct competition with the tramway. In order to compete with this new threat the Leamington and Warwick Company initially reduced their fares and then, in February 1928, introduced their own buses along the route. These were four Tilling-Stevens vehicles hired from the Midland General Omnibus Company Limited.

In 1928 the Leamington and Warwick Traction Act proposed the abandonment of the tramway in favour of motorbuses, giving the Leamington and Warwick Electrical Company a monopoly of services. As a consequence, on March 15th 1929, Stratford- upon-Avon Motor Services was purchased by the Leamington and Warwick Company, remaining as a separate operating concern until May 1931, when it was registered as

4 Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971 a limited company under the name of Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Limited. At the same time the operating links with the Leamington and Warwick were severed and the new Stratford Blue Company began operations in its own right, although the Balfour Beatty Group held the majority shareholding. The operating routes of the former Stratford-upon-Avon Motor Services had been registered in the new Company name as required by the 1930 Road Traffic Act and a new route from to Evesham was acquired.

The first major acquisition of the new Company was the purchase of the Reliance Bus Company of Bidford-upon-Avon on 6th June 1932, which brought with it four small vehicles, two Willowbrook-bodied Star VB4's and two all-Guy OND's. The two Guy vehicles were immediately transferred to the Cheltenham and District Company.

Around this time the BMMO Company were also active in the area and it was necessary to reach an operating agreement to protect the Company's services. On the 10th September 1932 the BMMO withdrew from the Cheltenham to Evesham service in favour of pooling the receipts from the Stratford to Leamington and the Stratford to Shipston-on-Stour services.

Although the Stratford Blue Company tried out two demonstrators (an Albion Valiant PV70 with Harrington bodywork in 1932, and, in 1933, an AEC Regal 662, again with Harrington bodywork), finance for new vehicles was not forthcoming from the Balfour Beatty Group, and the fleet continued to be made up of second-hand vehicles.

5 Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

In 1935 control passed into the hands of the British Electric Traction Group, with the purchase of the Company by the BMMO, although Stratford Blue continued to operate as a subsidiary for the next 35 years.

On the 1st January 1937 the Stratford Blue Company acquired a local competitor, Kineton Green Bus Services, which operated a fleet of eleven vehicles, although none were involved in the purchase. The garage at Kineton, which had only been built in 1934, was also acquired, along with the services, which included a route into Banbury, expanding the Stratford Blue operating area.

The outbreak of World War II, in 1939, brought with it an increase in passenger traffic in the form of military personnel en route to local camps and in March 1940 the first double-decker was purchased. Again this was a second-hand vehicle, an ex-City of Oxford Motor Services, 1931, AEC Regent. At the end of the war a joint service between Oxford and Stratford, with the City of Oxford Motor Services was introduced and extra vehicles were hired to cater for the increased traffic.

A change of policy in 1947, resulted in the ordering of new buses to be put into the hands of the Stratford Blue management and as a result eighteen new buses were ordered for delivery in 1948. Eight were to be all-Leyland double-deck PD2/1's, with the remainder being Northern Coach Builders bodied Leyland PS1's. In 1950 a further twelve buses arrived and the previously elderly fleet began to take on a smart, new appearance.

6 Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

In 1952 the parent company, the BMMO, raised further capital by the issue of 49,000 additional shares, and this provided for the further development of the Company. The Stratford to Shipston-on-Stour service of Bennett of Ilmington was taken over in February 1953 and a slow, but steady expansion of the Company's activities began.

Further vehicles were added to the fleet over the next few years. In 1954 two Burlingham-bodied Royal Tiger PSUC1/1's (numbered 56 and 57) were purchased, in time this would become the 'standard' Stratford Blue single-decker with another 14 being subsequently purchased. In 1956 three more PD2/12's with Willowbrook bodies arrived, and, in 1960, the first 8-ft double-deckers arrived.

In 1962 the coach fleet of Warwickshire County Garage, of Stratford, was acquired, although only one of the three-strong fleet was actually operated by Stratford Blue. The first, and only, rear-engined vehicles in the Stratford Blue fleet were three PDR1/1's with Northern Counties bodywork, which arrived in 1967.

In March 1969, the BET Group, which held the controlling interest in the BMMO, Stratford Blue's parent company, decided to sell its passenger transport interests to the National Bus Company (NBC). The NBC was pre-occupied with establishing its corporate identity and livery throughout the organisation and it was felt that the smaller companies, including Stratford Blue, would better serve the NBC's interests as part of a larger operation. In consequence of this, a decision was made to absorb the Stratford Blue Company into the operations of the parent BMMO Company, and, on 1st

7 Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

January 1971, the BMMO took over all the vehicles and services of Stratford Blue, eventually repainting the fleet in the BMMO's all-over red livery. The former Stratford Blue garages at Stratford and Kineton were retained. The Stratford Blue operating name was retained by the BMMO until 6th December 1977, when the Company was finally dissolved.

8 Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

Bus Fleet List 1927-1971

This listing is in the format - Fleet No; Reg. No; Chassis; Chassis No; Body; Seating.

1927

1; UE3403; Chevrolet LM; 15374; Allen; B14F 2; UE3897; Chevrolet LM; 16125; Allen; B14F 3; UE4189; Chevrolet LM; ? ; Allen; B14F 4-5; UE4664-65; Chevrolet LM; 17202/3; Allen; B14F 6-7; UE4933-34; Chevrolet LM; 17635/6(?); Allen; B14F

Withdrawn 1931 (1-7).

9 Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

Stratford Blue No. 7 (UE4934) entered service in 1927. It was a Chevrolet LM with Allen (of Brigg) 14-seat bodywork. The driver and conductor pose by the vehicle, although one cannot imagine the conductor having too much of a hard job collecting the fares! (LTHL collection). Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

1928

8; UE5283; Thornycroft A2; 15353; Hall Lewis; B20F 9; UE5749; Thornycroft A2; 15336; Hall Lewis; B20F 10; UE6494; Thornycroft A2; 14721; Hall Lewis; B20F 11; UE6734; Thornycroft A2; 14722; Hall Lewis; B20F

Withdrawn unknown (10-11), 1936 (8/9).

1929

12; TX1498; Thornycroft A1; 12817; NCME; B20F 13; UT411; Thornycroft A1; 12846; Hall Lewis; B20F 14; NR9527; Thornycroft A1; 12804; ? ; B20F 15; TX598; Thornycroft A1; 12769; Hall Lewis; B20F 16; TX647; Thornycroft A1; 12767; Hall Lewis; B20F

Nos. 13-14 ex-Wheeler, Kirby Muxloe. Nos. 15-16 ex-Barry Associated Motorways. Withdrawn unknown (13), 1933 (14-16), 1936 (12).

11 Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

1930

17; DF4771; Thornycroft A2; 14674; ? ; B20F 18; TR1886; Thornycroft A1; 12778; Hall Lewis; B20F 20; DG127; Ford AA; 3012506; ? ; B14? - ; HO6332; Thornycroft BT; 10328; ? ; B26F - ; RU1931; ? ; ? ; ? ; ? - ; DF2319; Graham-Dodge A; 584567; ? ; B14? - ; DF3696; Graham-Dodge A; 825237; ? ; B14?

All ex-Martin, Cheltenham. Withdrawn 1931 (18, 20, HO6332, RU1931, DF2319, DF3696), 1936 (17).

1931

19; RA3869; Tilling-Stevens B9B; 5514; Brush; B30F 20; RA3538; Tilling-Stevens B10B; 5154; Brush; B30F 21; RA3870; Tilling-Stevens B9B; 5197; Brush; B30F 22; RA3959; Tilling-Stevens B9B; 5513; Brush; B30F 24; RA3958; Tilling-Stevens B9B; 5512; Strachan and Brown; B30F

All ex-Midland General (Nos. 39, 27, 40, 42, 41 respectively). Withdrawn 1933 (20), 1936 (19, 22), 1937 (21, 24).

12 Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

1932

7; UE6467; Star VB4; C810; Willowbrook; B20F 18; UE7973; Star VB4; C887; Willowbrook; C23F

Nos. 7, 18 ex-Reliance, Bidford-on-Avon. Withdrawn 1935 (7), 1936 (18).

1933

20; FG5227; Commer 4PF; 16006; Hall Lewis; B32F

No. 20 second-hand via Midland General. Withdrawn 1935 (20).

1934

14; DG1312; Guy C; C23679; Guy; B28F 15; DG1317; Guy C; C23684; Guy; B28F 16; DG1316; Guy C; C23683; Guy; B28F 20; DG1310; Guy C; C23677; Guy; B28F

Nos. 14-15, 20 ex-Cheltenham and District (Nos. 19, 24, 23, 17). Withdrawn 1936 (14, 15), 1937 (16, 20).

13 Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

1936

17; WK9631; Maudslay ML; 4518; ? ; B32F 18; VC7801; Maudslay ML; 5651; ? ; B32F 23; WK9708; Maudslay ML; 4481; ? ; B32F 11-12; VT34/580; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 5134, 5547; Willowbrook; B32F 1; DB5141; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 5623; Brush; B36R 2-4; DB5152-54; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 5672-74; Tilling; B32R 5; DB5184; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 5780; Tilling; B36R 6; DB5162; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 5682; Brush; B32R 7-8; DB5157-58; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 5677-78; Tilling; B32R 9; DB5159; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 5679; Brush; B32R 10; DB5140; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 5622; Brush; B32R 14; DB5147; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 5667; Tilling; B32R 15; DB5130; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 5612; Brush; B36R

Nos. 17-18, 23 ex-Red House Garage, Coventry. Nos. 11-12 ex-Kingfisher. Nos. 1-10, 14-15 ex North Western Road Car Co. (new 1926; Nos. 241, 252-254, 284, 262, 257-59, 240, 247, 230 respectively); No. 5 was renumbered 22 before 1938. Withdrawn 1937 (17-18, 23), 1939 (1-10, 14-15), 1949 (11), 1950 (12).

14 Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

1937

16; DB5156; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 5676; Tilling; B32R 17; DB5177; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 5773; Tilling; B36R 18; DB5155; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 5675; Tilling; B32R 19; DB5163; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 5683; Brush; B32R 20; DB5190; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 5786; Tilling; B36R 21; DB5166; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 5686; Brush; B32R 23; UE9323; Daimler CF6; 7322; Brush; B32F

Nos. 16-21 ex-North Western Road Car Co. (new 1926; Nos. 256, 277, 255, 263, 290, 266 respectively). No. 23 ex-Leamington and Warwick (No. 9). Withdrawn 1938 (23), 1939 (15-21).

15 Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

1938

1; WX2121; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 6709; Tilling; B32F 2-4; WX2131/26/34; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 6719/14/22; United; B32F 5-7; WX2120/52/51; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 6708/40/39; Tilling; B32F 8; WX2148; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 6736; United; B32F 9; WX2125; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 6713; Tilling; B32F 10/14/15; WX2130/18/33; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 6718/06/21; United; B32F 16; WX2144; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 6732; Tilling; B32F 17-19; WX2141/53/50; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 6729/41/38; Roe; B32F 20; WP8277; Maudslay ML3; 5189; Smith; C32R 21; WP3425; Maudslay ML3; 5082; Smith; C32R

Nos. 1-10, 14-19 ex-West Yorkshire Road Car Co. (Nos. 265, 275, 270, 278, 264, 296, 295, 292, 269, 274, 262, 277, 288, 285, 297, 294 respectively). 20-21 ex-Owen, Abberley. Withdrawn 1946 (7, 8, 20, 21), 1947 (6), 1948 (1-4, 9, 10, 14-19), 1949 (5).

16 Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

1940

22; JO2354; AEC Regent 661; 6611129; Park Royal; L24/24R

No. 22 ex-City of Oxford Motor Services (new 1931; No. G167) Withdrawn 1948

1944

23; HA4942; SOS M; 1093; Ransomes; B34F

No. 23 ex- (new 1929; No. A1032) Withdrawn 1948.

1945

24-25; JA6972-73; Leyland TS7; 9493/4; Harrington; C32F 26; AHA619; SOS OLR; 2037; Short; B34F

Nos. 24-25 on loan from Majestic Express, Stockport until 1950. No. 26 on loan from Midland Red (No. 1675) until 1948.

17 Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

1946

20-21; DB9375/77; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 6764/66; ECOC; B31R 26-27; DB9395/68; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 6784/57; ECOC; B31R 28-29; DB9362/80; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 6583/769; ECOC; B31R 30-31; DB9389/97; Tilling-Stevens B10A2; 6778/56; ECOC; B31R

Nos. 20, 21, 26-31 ex-North Western Road Car Co. (new 1930; Nos. 475, 477, 495, 468, 462, 480, 489, 497 respectively). Withdrawn 1950.

1948

32-34; GUE238-40; Leyland PD2/1; 481040/38/39; Leyland; H30/26R 35-37; GUE241-43; Leyland PD2/1; 480945/1042/0944; Leyland; H30/26R 38-39; GUE244-45; Leyland PD2/1; 481043/41; Leyland; H30/26R 40-42; GUE246-48; Leyland PS1; 483184/5/268; NCB; B34F 43-44; GUE249-50; Leyland PS1; 483341/445; NCB; B34F 45-49; GUE251-55; Leyland PS1; 480757-61; NCB; B34F

Withdrawn 1959 (40-44, 48-49), 1960 (45-47), 1962 (34), 1963 (32-33, 35-39).

18 Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

No.38 (GUE244) was a Leyland PD2/1 with Leyland 56-seat bodywork, one of eight similar vehicles purchased in 1948. (LTHL collection). Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

No. 48 (GUE254) was a 1949 Leyland PS1 with Northern Coachbuilders 34-seat bodywork. (LTHL collection). Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

1950

50-53; JUE348-351; Leyland PS2/3; 495826-29; Willowbrook; DP34F 54-55; JUE352-53; Leyland PS2/1; 495824-5; Willowbrook; B34F 26-28; JUE354-356; Leyland PD2/1; 502520/1/19; Leyland; H30/26R 29-31; JUE357-59; Leyland PD2/1; 502566/5/7; Leyland; H30/26R

Nos. 50-53 re-bodied by NCME H35/28F in 1963 and renumbered 32-35; re-numbered 132-135 in 1970; to Midland Red 1st Jan 1971 (re-numbered 2132-2135 respectively). No. 55 re-bodied by Roe H35/28F in 1961 and renumbered 16; re-numbered 31 in 1965. Withdrawn 1963 (26-31, 54), 1968 (55[31]).

1952

23-25; MAC570-72; Leyland PD2/12; 521067/521/22; Leyland; H32/26RD

Withdrawn 1965 (23-25).

1954

56-57; OUE11-12; Leyland PSU1/16; 532684/3; Burlingham; C37C

Withdrawn 1964 (56-57).

21 Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

Leyland Tiger No. 57 (OUE12) dates from 1954 and carries a Burlingham ‘Seagull’ 37-seat body. (LTHL collection). Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

1956

20-22; TNX454-56; Leyland PD2/12; 556415/6/3; Willowbrook; H35/28RD

No. 20 to Midland Red 1st Jan 1971 (re-numbered 2020). Withdrawn 1967 (21-22).

1959

40-43; 2741-44AC; Leyland PSUC1/1; 587177/8/90/1; Willowbrook; DP41F 44; 2745AC; Leyland PSUC1/1; 587113; Willowbrook; B45F

Nos. 40-44 to Midland Red 1st Jan 1971 (re-numbered 2040-2044 respectively).

23 Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

No. 40 (2741AC) was a 1959 Leyland Tiger Cub with Willowbrook 45-seat dual purpose bodywork. (LTHL collection). Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

1960

17-19; 2767-69NX; Leyland PD3/4; 592208/29/30; Willowbrook; H41/32F 45-46; 3945-46UE; Leyland PSUC1/1; 606329/30; Park Royal; B45F 47-48; 3947-48UE; Leyland PSUC1/1; 606365/6; Park Royal; B45F

Nos. 17-19 re-numbered 28-30 in 1965; to Midland Red 1st Jan 1971 (re-numbered 2028-2030 respectively). Nos. 45-48 to Midland Red 1st Jan 1971 (re-numbered 2045-2048 respectively).

1961

58; 3958UE; Ford Thames 570E; 52985; Duple; C41F

Withdrawn 1965 (58).

25 Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

1962

49; 5449WD; Leyland PSUC1/1; 617455; Marshall; B45F 50-52; 5450-52WD; Leyland PSUC1/1; 617540-41/68; Marshall; DP41F 55; 5455WD; Leyland PSUC1/1; 617469; Marshall DP41F 59; 8222NX; Bedford SB3; 80344; Duple; C41F No. 49 re-seated to B43F in 1969; to Midland Red 1st Jan 1971 (re-numbered 2049). No. 55 re-numbered 53 in 1969. No. 59 ex-Warwickshire County Garage (new 1960). Nos. 50-53 to Midland Red 1st Jan 1971 (re-numbered 2050-2053 respectively). Withdrawn 1963 (59).

1963

36-39; 536-39EUE; Leyland PD3/4; 623278/9/593/4; NCME; H41/32F 59; 436GAC; Leyland PSU3/3R; L00178; Duple; C49F 1-2; 668-69HNX; Leyland PD3A/1; L02477/8; Willowbrook; H41/32F

Nos. 1-2 to Midland Red 1st Jan 1971 (re-numbered 2001-2002 respectively). Nos. 36-39 re-numbered 24-27 in 1969; to Midland Red 1st Jan 1971 (re-numbered 2024-2027 respectively). No. 59 re-numbered 55 in 1969; to Midland Red 1st Jan 1971 (re-numbered 2055).

26 Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

No. 25 (537EUE) was a 1963 Leyland PD3/4 with Northern Counties 73-seat bodywork. Originally numbered 37 it passed to Midland Red on 1st January 1971 where it became No. 2025. (Roger Cox). Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

No. 2 (669HNX), a 1963 Leyland PD3A/1 with Willowbrook 73-seat bodywork on its way to Alveston. It also passed to Midland Red on the 1st January 1971 where it was re-numbered 2002. (Roger Cox). Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

1964

56-57; AAC21-22B; Leyland L2T; L04272/3; Plaxton; C41F 3-6; 670-73HNX; Leyland PD3A/1; L02479-82; Willowbrook; H41/32F

Nos. 3-6 to Midland Red 1st Jan 1971 (re-numbered 2003-2006 respectively). Nos. 56-57 to Midland Red 1st Jan 1971 (re-numbered 2056-2057 respectively).

1965

60; CWD33C; Leyland PSU3/3R; L21695; Weymann; B53F 61; DAC753C; Leyland PSU3/3R; L4035; Duple; C49F

Nos. 60, 61 re-numbered 54, 58 respectively in 1970; to Midland Red 1st Jan 1971 (re-numbered 2054, 2058 respectively).

29 Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

1966

7-8; GUE1-2D; Leyland PD3A/1; L43176/7; Willowbrook; H41/32F 62; HAC628D; Leyland L2; L60880; Marshall; DP41F

Nos. 7-8 to Midland Red 1st Jan 1971 (re-numbered 2007-2008 respectively). No. 62 re-numbered 59 in 1970; to Midland Red 1st Jan 1971 (re-numbered 2059).

1967

9-11; NAC415-17F; Leyland PDR1A/1; 700022/3/45; NCME; H44/31F

Nos. 9-11to Midland Red 1st Jan 1971 (re-numbered 2009-2011 respectively).

1970

31-35; AUE309-13J; Leyland PSUR1A/1; 902361-65; Marshall; B41D 36; XNX136H; Leyland PSU3A/4R; 7001612; Alexander; DP49F

Nos. 31-36 to Midland Red 1st Jan 1971 (re-numbered 2031-2036 respectively).

30 Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

Preserved Stratford Blue No.62 (HAC628D), a 1966 with Marshall dual-purpose 41-seat bodywork. (David Lang). Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Ltd 1927-1971

No. 36 (XNX136H) was the last vehicle to be delivered before Stratford Blue were absorbed by Midland Red. It was a Leyland PSU3A/4R ‘Leopard’ with Alexander 49-seat dual purpose bodywork. (LTHL collection). © Local Transport History Library 2018

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